On Tuesday'sĀ Glenn Beck Program, Glenn broadcasted his monologue in both English and Spanish and explained - parent to parent, dad to dad - why it is not wise to send unaccompanied children to the U.S. In it, he explained why he was coming to the border with Mercury One to provide basic humanitarian relief, as well as why the parents need to stopĀ sending their kids on the dangerous journey to the United States.
"So you know up front, while I am against illegal immigration, I believe in justice. I also believe in mercy and as a private citizen, I have decided to use my resources to go down to the border where your children perhaps are being held in churches. They are being held in squalor. We don't see some of the pictures because our government won't allow us. We're not allowed to see what's happening in our own country. I and my viewers and my listeners have raised over 2 million dollars to bring your children a teddy bear or a soccer ball or shoes. We are bringing over a million dollars worth of food as well. We do this because we are Christians. I believe deeply in God and I believe if i can't help your child, I'm going to be held responsible for it," Glenn said.
While Glenn wants to provide relief for the children, he wanted the parents to stop sending their kids to the United States.
"First, there's the physical dangers. They will be lucky to make it alive. The journey begins on the death train.To board it, children must jump on to it while it's moving. Many are unable to hold on. They fall, causing them to be trampled by the train, losing arms and legs... If they survive the fall, they are forced to go back home. Back to where they started -- only worse off than before," Glenn said.
"Those who make it closer to the border have to endure extreme terrain -- according to news reports,Ā 'little' dead bodies are washing up on the shores of the Rio Grande," he continued. "Others are not abandoned by a cowardly smuggler just looking to make an easy buck.Ā They are targeted.Ā Taken.Ā Boys and girls both... their human-ness stripped from them... their dignity, their worth, robbed -- as they are sold into sex slavery."
"I beg you. Keep your family together. Do not hand your child off to someone who only cares about making some cash," Glenn said. "No child would trade location in exchange for their parents. Family is a gift. We need mom and dad. It's just the way we're wired. Deep down we all know this to be true. No one has to teach it to us. Your country may be in turmoil. Your town may be dangerous. But nothing is more destructive than breaking apart the family."
WATCH (below the video is the transcript of the monologueĀ in Spanish, followed by the EnglishĀ translation):
Spanish Transcript (scroll down for English):
ESTA NOCHE QUIERO HACER UNA PROGRAMA MUY DIFERENTE. QUIERO HABLAR DIRECTAMENTE A LA GENTE DE MĆXICO, AMĆRICA CENTRAL, Y DEL SUR.NO UNA CHARLA. NO DESOTRICAR.
SIN JUZGAR. SIN REGAĆAR.
UNA CONVERSACIĆN DE UN PADRE A OTO.
PADRE A PADRE.
HOMBRE A HOMBRE.
CORAZĆN A CORAZĆN.
USTED NO TIENE CUALQUIER IDEA QUIEN SOY. MI NOMBRE ES GLENN BECK Y SOY UN LOCUTOR DE RADIO Y TELEVISION EN LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA. SOY UNA PERSONA QUE ESTĆ MUY EN CONTRA DE LA IMMIGRACIĆN ILEGAL.
NUESTRA FRONTERA ES UN LĆO AQUĆ EN LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS. NUESTRA FRONTERA ESTA LLENA DE DROGAS Y LA VIOLENCIA. LA MAYORĆA DE LOS ESTADOUNIDENSES NO QUIEREN IR CERCA DE NUESTRA FRONTERA. EN ARIZONA HEMOS PERDIDO ALREDEDOR DEL 80 O MAS MILLAS DE LA FRONTERA DONDE NUESTRO GOBIERNO HA PUBLICADO CARTELES QUE DICEN "SI USTED ES UN CIUDADANO AMERICANO, YA NO PODEMOS PROTEGERTE AQUĆ.ā
PHOENIX SE HA CONVERTIDO EN LA CAPITAL DE SECUESTRO DEL MUNDO. ESTOY VIENDO UN PAĆS QUE NI SIQUIERA RECONOSCO. Y USTED ESTĆ VIENDO CADA VEZ MĆS COMO AMERICA SE CONVIERTE COMO SUS PAĆSES PORQUE NUESTROS GOBIERNOS ESTAN FUERA DE CONTROL. REALMENTE NO SOMOS TAN DIFERENTE. SOMOS PERSONAS TRATANDO DE SOBREVIVIR, TRATANDO DE SER UNA FAMILIA, SIMPLEMENTE TRATANDO DE CRIAR A NUESTROS HIJOS, TENER UN TRABAJO Y UNA VIDA DIGNA. Y NUESTROS GOBIERNOS A VECES VAN MAL. AMBOS QUEREMOS DOS COSAS: JUSTICIA Y MISERICORDIA.
ASĆ QUE USTED SABE, MIENTRAS QUE ESTOY CONTRA LA INMIGRACIĆN ILEGAL, CREO EN LA JUSTICIA. YO TAMBIEN CREO EN MISERICORDIA Y COMO CIUDADANO PRIVADO, HE DECIDIDO UTILIZAR MI RECURSOS PARA BAJAR HASTA LA FRONTERA DONDE SUS HIJOS QUIZĆS ESTĆN DETENIDOS EN LAS IGLESIAS. ESTĆN RECLUIDOS EN LA MISERIA. NO VEMOS ALGUNAS DE LAS FOTOS PORQUE NUESTRO GOBIERNO NO NOS PERMITE. NO SE NOS PERMITE VER LO QUE ESTĆ SUCEDIENDO EN NUESTRO PROPIO PAĆS. YO, MIS ESPECTADORES, Y MIS OYENTES HAN RECAUDADO MĆS DE 2 MILLONES DE DĆLARES PARA TRAERLE A SUS HIJOS UN OSO DE PELUCHE, O UNA PELOTA, O ZAPATOS DE FĆTBOL. ESTAMOS TRAYENDO MĆS DE UN MILLĆN DE DĆLARES EN COMIDA TAMBIĆN. LO HACEMOS PORQUE SOMOS CRISTIANOS. CREO PROFUNDAMENTE EN DIOS Y CREO SI NO PUEDO AYUDAR A SU HIJO, YO VOY A SER SOSTENIDO RESPONSABLE POR ESO. QUIERO HABLAR CON USTED ESTA NOCHE SOBRE LO QUE USTED NO PUEDE VER. YO NO PUEDO RELACIONARME CON SU VIDA. VEO LAS FAMILIAS DEL SUR DE NUESTRA FRONTERA QUE ESTAN DEVASTADA A LO QUE NOS VAMOS DE VACACIONES Y NOS VAMOS A LUGARES COMO MEXICO. NOS ROMPE EL CORAZĆN VER A LA POBREZA. LAS FAMILIAS QUE SE ESTĆN DESTROZANDO POR LA VIOLENCIA. NO PUEDO COMPRENDER LO QUE ALGUNOS HAN VIVIDO. LO QUE USTED PUEDE ESTAR VIVIENDO. NO PUEDO IMAGINAR NO TENER LOS DERECHOS QUE NOSOTROS NOS DAMOS POR SENTADO. NO ME PUEDO IMAGINAR LOS 14 AĆOS DE VIDA DE CARLOS SANCHEZ. HA TUVIDO OCHO DE SUS AMIGOS Y FAMILIARES ASESINADOS. TRES JUSTO DELANTE DE ĆL. FUE TESTIGO DE UN ASESINATO DOBLE DESPUĆS DE QUE ALGUIEN SE NEGĆ A ENTREGAR SU MOTOCICLETA A UN GRUPO DE DELINQUENTES. Y ENTONCES VIO A UN HOMBRE CAMINANDO A CASA DEL MERCADO, EJECUTADO DERECHO FRENTE A LA CALLE. ĆL DICE AHORA, āĀ”ES NADA PARA VER UNA PERSONA MUERTA!ā
TENGO UN HIJO DE DIEZ AĆOS. YO NO PUEDO IMAGINAR MI HIJO DE DIEZ AĆOS DICIENDO ESO. INCLUSO LOS PROBLEMAS PEORES EN ESTE PAĆS NO SON ESOS. OTRA HISTORIA TAL VEZ DE SU PAĆS - CHRISTIAN OMAR REYES, NIĆO DE 11 AĆOS. ĆL QUIERE VENIR A LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS.
SU PADRE FUE ASESINADO EN MARZO.
SU MAMĆ UTILIZO EL DINERO DE SEGURO DE VIDA PARA CONTRATAR UN CONTRABANDISTA QUE LA LLEVARA A LA FLORIDA.
SĆLO TENĆA SUFICIENTE PARA PAGAR POR SĆ MISMA. LO DEJĆ DETRĆS Y SE COMPROMETIĆ A ENVIAR POR ĆL.
ĆL TODAVĆA NO SABIDO NADA DE ELLA.
NO SABEMOS QUĆ PASĆ CON ELLA.
HA PROMETIDO ESCAPARSE PARA AMERICA ESTE AĆO A BUSCAR A SU MADRE.
SUPONGO QUE PARA ALGUNOS ESTADOUNIDENSES SERĆA FĆCIL DE JUZGAR A LA MADRE PARA DIVIDIR A SU FAMILIA.
MI TIO LEO ERA DE ITALIA. CUANDO LA SEGUNDA GUERRA MUNDIAL PASĆ LA FAMILIA AGREGARON SU DINERO Y ENVIARON MI TĆO A AMĆRICA. ĆL ERA UN CIUDADANO ESTADOUNIDENSE. NACIĆ AQUĆ, PERO LA FAMILIA ERA DE ITALIA. ESTO HA SUCEDIDO EN TODO LA HISTORIA DEL MUNDO. NO LO CULPO A ĆL POR QUERER SALIR. YO NO LOS CULPO A USTEDED POR ENVIAR SUS HIJOS.
LA GENTE DESESPERADA HACE COSAS DESESPERADAS. MIENTRAS ESTOY AQUĆ SENTADO EN LA COMODIDAD RELATIVA DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, NO VOY A PRESUMIR QUE YO HARĆ NADA DIFERENTE DE LO QUE HAN HECHO O TAL VEZ HAN PENSANDO EN HACER.
ESO ES LO QUE HACE ESTA SITUACIĆN TAN DIFĆCIL. ES POR ESTO QUE MUCHOS DE NOSOTROS EN AMERICA NOS SIENTIMOS TAN APASIONADAMENTE SOBRE SUS HIJOS.
ES POR ESTO QUE MUCHAS PERSONAS HAN TOMADO DIEZ O VEINTE DĆLARES Y LO HAN PUESTO JUNTOS PARA ALIMENTAR O PONER LOS ZAPATOS EN SUS HIJOS. ESTAMOS HACIENDO LO DURO Y NUESTRO PAĆS ESTĆ SIENDO DESTRUIDO PORQUE NUESTRO GOBIERNO NO ESTĆ HACIENDO SU TRABAJO EN LA DEFENSA DE LA JUSTICIA.
COMO HACEMOS LO DURO - VOY A PIDER QUE USTED POR FAVOR CONSIDERE HACER LO DURO TAMBIĆN. ĀæRESISTIRAS LA TENTACIĆN DE HUIR O ROMPER A SU FAMILIA?
POR FAVOR, NO ENTREGE SU HIJO A UN CONTRABANDISTA EN EL MEDIO DE LA NOCHE.
A USTED PROBABLEMENTE LE HAN DICHO QUE ESTA ES LA TIERRA DE LECHE Y MIEL.
MIENTRAS QUE LOS POLĆTICOS PROPIO DICEN QUE NO SOMOS UNA NACIĆN EXCEPCIONAL. HEMOS SIDO GRANDEMENTE BENDECIDOS. Y HEMOS COMETIDO ERRORES HORRIBLES EN EL PASADO. HONESTAMENTE A VECES PIENSO QUE NO MEREZCO TODAS LAS BENDICIONES QUE TENEMOS. HEMOS PERDIDO EL CAMINO EN LOS ĆLTIMOS DIEZ O VEINTE AĆOS, PERO ESTAMOS TRATANDO.
USTED PUDO HABER SIDO DICHO QUE SU HIJO TENDRĆ UNA VIDA MEJOR.
PERO TE DIRĆ USTED LA LECHE Y MIEL NO HACE UNA FAMILIA.
SOY UN TIPO QUE HA PERDIDO TODO EN MI VIDA. YO NO TENĆA NADA. ME PODIA PAGAR MI RENTA Y RECUERDO QUE ME SENTĆA LĆSTIMA DE MĆ MISMO Y PENSABA QUE MIS HIJOS ESTARĆAN MEJOR SIN MĆ. GRACIAS A DIOS ME DI LA VUELTA A PARTIR DE ESA IDEA. LA FAMILIA ES LO MĆS IMPORTANTE. ESA ES LA VERDAD. NO DEJE QUE NADIE LE DIGA DIFERENTE A USTED.
AUNQUE USTED PUEDE ENFRENTAR LO INIMAGINABLE, SU HIJO ESTARĆ EN PEORES MANOS HACIENDO EL VIAJE TRAICIONERO A TRAVĆS DE MĆXICO A ESTADOS UNIDOS.
HAY ESTADOUNIDENSES QUE TIENEN MIEDO DE IR A NUESTRA PROPIA FRONTERA.
CARLOS SĆNCHEZ DE 14 AĆOS HA TENIDO OCHO DE SUS AMIGOS Y FAMILIARES ASESINADOS.
TRES DE ESOS JUSTO DELANTE DE ĆL.
FUE TESTIGO DE UN DOBLE HOMICIDIO DESPUĆS DE QUE ALGUIEN NEGĆ ENTREGRAR SU MOTOCICLETA A UN PAR DE MATONES.
Y LUEGO VIO A UN HOMBRE CAMINANDO A CASA DESDE EL MERCADO, EJECUTADO EN PLENA CALLE.
AHORA DICE QUE ES 'NADA' PARA VER A UNA PERSONA MUERTA.
UNA VEZ MĆS, TIENE 14 AĆOS.
INCLUSO LOS PEORES PROBLEMAS EN ESTE PAĆS SON PĆLIDO EN COMPARACIĆN.
CRISTIAN OMAR REYES DE 11 AĆOS QUIERE SALIR DEMASIADO.
SU PADRE FUE ASESINADO EN MARZO.
SU MADRE USĆ EL DINERO DEL SEGURO DE VIDA PARA CONTRATAR A UN CONTRABANDISTA PARA LLEVARLA A LA FLORIDA.
SĆLO TENĆA SUFICIENTE PARA PAGAR POR SU MISMA. EN REALIDAD ELLA DEJĆ A SU HIJO DETRĆS Y PROMETIĆ QUE ENVIARĆA POR EL PRONTO.
ĆL TODAVĆA NO HA OĆDO DE ELLA.
HA JURADO A ESCAPAR A ESTADOS UNIDOS ESTE AĆO.
Y NO LO CULPO... ES FĆCIL JUZGAR A LA MADRE PARA DIVIDIR A SU FAMILIA.
GENTE DESESPERADA HACEN COSAS DESESPERADAS. MIENTRAS ME SIENTO AQUĆ EN LAS COMODIDADES RELATIVAS DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, NO SUPONDRĆ QUE HARĆA ALGO DIFERENTE.
ESO ES LO QUE HACE ESTE PROGRAMA DIFĆCIL. PORQUE LE ESTOY ROGANDO... PARA HACER LO MĆS DIFĆCIL, PARA RESISTIR LA TENTACIĆN DE HUIR.
NO ROMPAS TU FAMILIA.
NO ENTREGE SU HIJO A UN CONTRABANDISTA EN MEDIO DE LA NOCHE.
LE HAN DICHO QUE ESTA ES LA TIERRA DE LECHE Y MIEL.
SE LES HA DICHO QUE SU HIJO TENDRĆ UNA VIDA MEJOR... INCLUSO SI SIGNIFICA QUE ESTĆN SIN SU MAMĆ Y PAPĆ.
NADIE ESTĆ DICIENDO DURA LA VERDAD --QUE AUNQUE TE ENFRENTAS A LO INIMAGINABLE, SU HIJO SERĆ AĆN PEOR EN EL PELIGROSO VIAJE A TRAVĆS DE MĆXICO A ESTADOS UNIDOS.
EN PRIMER LUGAR, EXISTEN LOS PELIGROS FĆSICOS. SERĆN FORTUNADOS DE LLEGAR VIVO. EL VIAJE COMIENZA EN EL TREN DE LA MUERTE. PARA ABORDAR, NIĆOS DEBEN SUBIRSE A ĆL MIENTRAS SE ESTĆ MOVIENDO. MUCHOS SON INCAPACES DE MANTENERSE EN EL. CAEN, PROVOCANDO QUE SER PISOTEADO POR EL TREN, PERDIENDO LOS BRAZOS Y LAS PIERNAS... SI SOBREVIVEN A LA CAĆDA, SE VEN OBLIGADOS A IR A CASA. VOLVER A DONDE EMPEZARON--SĆLO PEOR QUE ANTES.
ELLOS MĆS CERCA DE LA FRONTERA TIENEN QUE SOPORTAR EXTREMA TERRENO--SEGĆN INFORMES DE PRENSA, 'PEQUEĆO' CADĆVERES ESTĆN LAVANDO EN LAS ORILLAS DEL RĆO GRANDE.
SĆLO DIOS SABE LO QUE SUCEDIĆ EN LOS MOMENTOS ANTES DE QUE ESOS NIĆOS PRECIOSOS FALLECIERON.
MIS HIJOS TENĆAN MIEDOS DE LA OSCURIDAD.
NO PUEDO IMAGINAR EL TERROR QUE ESOS PEQUEĆOS NIĆOS SINTIERON FLOTANDO EN LA NOCHE, SOLO, EN EL PODEROSO RĆO GRANDE.
ME PREGUNTO SI CREĆAN DE MAMĆ Y PAPĆ COMO SU VIDA COLGABA EN EL EQUILIBRIO.
ĀæPOR QUĆ ME DEJARON?
ĀæESTARĆ BIEN?
LOS PADRES NUNCA LO SABRĆN. Y NUNCA VERĆN A SU HIJO OTRA VEZ.
PORQUELE QUERĆAN DAR DE ELLOS UNA "MEJOR VIDA."
OTROS NO SON ABANDONADOS POR UN CONTRABANDISTA COBARDE SĆLO BUSCAN GANAR UN DINERO FĆCIL.
QUE SON DIRIGIDO.
TOMADO.
NIĆOS Y NIĆAS IGUAL. LA VIDA DESPOJADO DE ELLOS. SU DIGNIDAD, SU VALOR, ROBADO--COMO SE VENDEN EN LA ESCLAVITUD SEXUAL.
TIM BALLARD HA VISTO DE PRIMERA MANO CĆMO LA INDUSTRIA DEL SEXO ESCLAVO HA FLORECIDO EN LA ANARQUĆA DE AMĆRICA LATINA. COMO PARTE DE UNA OPERACIĆN QUE VIERON PERSONALMENTE 20 NIĆAS DE 11 A 12 AĆOS DE EDAD.
ASUSTADO. TEMBLANDO.
DEMASIADA AVERGONZADAS PARA MIRAR EN CUALQUIER LUGAR OTRO QUE DIRECTAMENTE AL SUELO.
SE HAN IDENTIFICADO Y ACTUALMENTE ESTĆN TRABAJANDO PARA LIBERAR A UNOS 200 NIĆOS, TODOS LOS CUALES FUERON PRESENTADOS EN UN CATĆLOGO. SĆ, TRAFICANTES EN REALIDAD PRODUCEN E IMPRESIĆN CATĆLOGOS PARA MOSTRAR A LOS CLIENTES DE PERSPECTIVA.
ĀæSABES CĆMO SE SIENTE CUANDO SU HIJO CAE--OBTIENE UN CORTE O UN MORETĆN. LLORAN. MĆS VECES LA LESIĆN NO ES NI SIQUIERA MALAS. ELLOS ESTĆN LLORANDO PORQUE FUE LA CAĆDA, EL GOLPE O LO QUE SEA... LES DIO UN SUSTO. ASĆ LOS CONSUELOS. Y DUELE PARA VERLOS EN EL DOLOR.
IMAGINA QUE SENSACIĆN TIEMPOS 1 MILLĆN. SU HIJO. ATRAPADOS. ASUSTADO. OFRECIDO COMO UN PREMIO PARA LA ESCORIA DE LA HUMANIDAD. PARA EL ABUSO Y TIRAR A LA BASURA.
Y NO PUEDES ESTAR AHĆ PARA CONFORTARLOS.
NO PUEDES CONTESTAR SUS GRITOS.
ESTĆN SOLOS.
ESTĆS SOLO.
ĀæSUENA COMO UNA MEJOR VIDA?
USTED PUEDE SENTIRSE ATRAPADO. USTED PUEDE VER NINGUNA SALIDA.
PERO SIEMPRE HAY ESPERANZA. TE LO RUEGO. MANTENGA A SU FAMILIA JUNTA. NO ENTREGE SU HIJO A ALGĆN PERDEDOR QUE SĆLO SE PREOCUPA POR HACER ALGO PARA DINERO.
DIOS LE DIO ESE NIĆO. PARA CUIDAR DE EL. NUTRIRLOS. AMARLOS. PARA VIVIR LA ALEGRĆA DE VER LOS CRECER.
USTED NO LE ESTĆ DANDO A ELLOS UNA MEJOR VIDA SI NO ERES PARTE DE ELLA.
NO IMPORTA DONDE ESTAN.
NINGĆN NIĆO CAMBIARĆA UBICACIĆN A CAMBIO DE SUS PADRES.
LA FAMILIA ES UN REGALO. NECESITAMOS LA MAMA Y EL PAPĆ. ES SIMPLEMENTE LA FORMA EN QUE SOMOS. EN EL FONDO TODOS SABEMOS QUE ESTO ES CIERTO. NADIE TIENE QUE MOSTRARNOS
SU PAĆS PUEDE ESTAR EN LA AGITACIĆN.
SU CIUDAD PUEDE SER PELIGROSA.
PERO NADA ES MĆS DESTRUCTIVO QUE ROMPER LA FAMILIA.
VOY A LA FRONTERA ESTE SĆBADO.
VOY A ALIMENTAR A SUS HIJOS E HIJAS QUE HAN SOBREVIVIDO AL PELIGROSO VIAJE.
YO, SI SOLO POR UN MOMENTO, LOS CUIDARĆ. SI TIENE SED YO LE DARĆ, ALGO DE BEBER.
SI TIENEN HAMBRE VOY A DAR ALGO DE COMER.
SI ESTAN ABAJO VOY A TRATAR DE ANIMARLOS.
Y YO LES ANIMARĆ CON LAS PALABRAS QUE CADA NIĆO QUIERE OĆR:
NO TE PREOCUPES. PRONTO ESTARĆ EN SU CAMINO A CASA ... Y USTED ESTARĆ CON MAMĆ Y PAPĆ.
English Translation:
Tonight I want to do a very different show. I want to speak directly to the people of Mexico, Central and South America. Not a lecture. Not a rant. No scolding. Just a conversation from one parent to another. Dad to dad. Man to man. Heart to heart.You don't have any idea who I am. My name is Glenn Beck and I am a radio and TVĀ talk show host in the United States of America. I am somebody who is very much against illegal immigration. Our border is a mess here in America. Our border is filled with drugs and violence. Most Americans don't want to go near our border. In parts of Arizona we have lost about 80 or miles of our border where our government has posted signs that say 'if you are an American citizen, we can no longer protect you here.
Phoenix has become the kidnapping capitol of the world. I am seeing a country I don't even recognize. And you are seeing America becoming more like some of your countries because our governments are out of control. We're really not that different. We're people just trying to survive, just trying to be a family, just trying to raise our kids, have a job and a decent life. And our governments sometimes go bad. Both of us want two things: justice and mercy.
So you know up front, while I am against illegal immigration, I believe in justice. I also believe in mercy and as a private citizen, I have decided to use my resources to go down to the border where your children perhaps are being held in churches. They are being held in squalor. We don't see some of the pictures because our government won't allow us. We're not allowed to see what's happening in our own country. I and my viewers and my listeners have raised over 2 million dollars to bring your children a teddy bear or a soccer ball or shoes. We are bringing over a million dollars worth of food as well. We do this because we are Christians. I believe deeply in God and I believe if I can't help your child, I'm going to be held responsible for it. I want to talk to you tonight about what you may not see. I cannot relate to your life. I see families south of our border that our devasted as we go on vacation and we go to places like Mexico. It breaks our heart to see the poverty. The families that are being torn apart by violence. I cannot comprehend living through what some have lived through. What you may be living through.
I can't imagine not having the rights that we take for granted. I can't imagine the life of 14 year old Carlos Sanchez. He had eight of his friends and families murdered. Three right in front of him. He witnessed a double murder after someone refused to hand over his motorcycle to a group of thugs. And then he saw a man walking home from the market, executed right in front of the street. He says now, it's nothing to see a dead person.
I have a ten year old son. I cannot imagine my ten year old son saying that. Even the worse problems in this country are not that. Another story from perhaps your country -- 11 year old christian Omar Reyes. He wants to get out and come to America.
His dad was murdered back in March.
His mom used the life insurance money to hire a smuggler to take her to Florida.
She only had enough to pay for herself. She left him behind and promised to send for him.
He still hasn't heard from her.
We don't know what happened to her.
He has vowed to escape to America this year to look for mom.
I guess for some Americans it would be easy to judge a mother for splitting her family.
My Uncle Leo was from Italy. When World War Two happened the family pooled their money together and sent my uncle to America. He was an American citizen. He was born here but the family was from Italy. This happens throughout world history. I don't blame him for wanting to leave. I don't blame you for sending your kids.
Desperate people do desperate things. As I sit here in the relative comforts of the United States, I will not presume that I would do anything differently than what you have done or are perhaps considering doing.
That's what makes this situation so difficult. This is why so many of us in America feel so passionately about your children.
This is why so many people have taken ten or twenty dollars and put it together to feed or put shoes on your children. We are doing the hard thing and our country is being torn apart because our government is not doing its job and upholding justice.
As we do the hard thing -- I'm going to ask you kindly will you please consider doing the hard thing as well. Would you resist the temptation to flee or to break up your family.
Please do not hand your child off to a smuggler in the middle of the night.
You probably have been told that this is the land of milk and honey.
While are own politicians say we are not a exceptional nation, we are. We have been greatly blessed. And we have made horrible mistakes in the past. Quite honestly sometimes i think we don't deserve all the blessings we have. We have lost our way in the last ten or twenty years, but we're trying.
You may have been told your child will have a better life.
But I will tell you milk and honey does not make a family.
I'm a guy who lost everything in my life. I had nothing. I couldn't afford my rent and I remember feeling sorry for myself and thinking my children would be better off without me. Thank God I turned around from that idea. Family is the most important thing. That is the truth. Don't let anybody else tell you differently.
Even though you may face the unimaginable, your child will be worse off making the treacherous journey through Mexico to the United States.
There are Americans who are afraid to go to our own border.
First, there's the physical dangers. They will be lucky to make it alive. The journey begins on the death train.To board it, children must jump on to it while it's moving. Many are unable to hold on. They fall, causing them to be trampled by the train, losing arms and legs... If they survive the fall, they are forced to go back home. Back to where they started -- only worse off than before.
Those who make it closer to the border have to endure extreme terrain -- according to news reports,Ā 'little' dead bodies are washing up on the shores of the Rio Grande.
God only knows what happened in the moments before precious children -- like this little boy -- passed away.
My kids were afraid of the dark. I can't even begin to imagine the terror those young children felt as they floated off into the night, alone, on the mighty Rio Grande. You and I know as parents, their last thoughts were "will I be ok", "why did they leave me?"
Those parents will never know. And they will never see their child again.Ā Because they wanted to give them a 'better life'...
Others are not abandoned by a cowardly smuggler just looking to make an easy buck.
They are targeted.
Taken.
Boys and girls both... their human-ness stripped from them... their dignity, their worth, robbed -- as they are sold into sex slavery.
Tim Ballard (Operation Underground Railroad) has seen first hand how the sex slave industry has flourished in the lawlessness of latin america. As part of an operation they personally saw 20 girls aged 11 to 12 years old.
Frightened. Trembling.
Too ashamed to look anywhere other than directly at the ground.
They have identified and are currently working to liberate some 200 kids -- all of whom were featured in a catalogue. Yes, traffickers actually produce and print catalogues to show to perspective clients.Ā The reason I know this is because my charity has raised money to rescue some of these kids and return them to their family- but there are thousands we have personally seen that we cant get to.Ā You know how it feels when your child falls -- gets a cut, or a bruise. They cry -- most times the injury isn't even that bad. They are crying because the fall, the bump, or whatever it was -- it scared them. So you comfort them. And it pains you to see them in pain.
Imagine that feeling times a million. Your child. Trapped. Scared. Offered up as a prize for the slime of humanity. To abuse and throw away.
And you cannot be there to comfort them.
You cannot answer their cries.
They are alone.
You are alone.
Does that sound like a better life?
You may feel trapped. You may see no way out.
But there is always hope. I beg you. Keep your family together. Do not hand your child off to someone who only cares about making some cash.
God gave you that child. To care for them. To nurture them. To love them. To experience the joy of seeing them grow.
You are not giving them a better life- if you are not part of it.
No matter where they are.
No child would trade location in exchange for their parents.
Family is a gift. We need mom and dad. It's just the way we're wired. Deep down we all know this to be true. No one has to teach it to us.
Your country may be in turmoil.
Your town may be dangerous.
But nothing is more destructive than breaking apart the family.
I am going to the border this Saturday.
I will meet your sons and daughters who have survived the dangerous journey.
I will, if just for a moment, care for them. If they are thirsty I will give them something to drink.
If they are hungry I will give them something to eat.
If they're down I will try to cheer them up.
And I will encourage them with the words every child wants to hear: Don't worry. Soon you'll be on your way back home... And you will be with mom and dad.
This story has been updated.Ā
